“I Put My Hand in the Dirt”: Dwayne Johnson Passionately Explains Why Competition With NFL is Personal to Him

Dwayne Johnson aspired to play football before beginning his illustrious WWE and Hollywood career. However, he was forced to quit his ambition owing to his injuries. His love for sports persisted, even though he failed to launch a successful career and had his hopes dashed. In 2020, he also acquired the XFL football league from Vince McMahon, his former employer.

It’s interesting to note that he spent $15 million on the XFL, although it failed after two seasons and didn’t become successful. The Rock recently claimed to ESPN that he resonates with the new XFL talent.

During the XFL conversation, Johnson was asked what he sees in the players since he had played the game. Johnson replied, “I see myself in these kids’ eyes. We walked into this field at 7 AM and you know there’s a real grit and hunger in their eyes. And I know what it’s like. I put my hand in the dirt.”

Moreover, The Rock claimed that playing helped him understand what it was like to grind away for many years. He said he understands what it means to be told that you are great, but not good enough. Considering this, he was motivated to start a league to give emerging talent a platform.

Read More: JUST IN: Dwayne Johnson Reveals What the ‘X’ in XFL Stands for

He stated, “And that drive and that fire and that flame it’s the same thing that these kids have that same chip who told ‘you’re good but not that good and not good enough.’ You’re here but we’re gonna look this way at maybe bigger school at other athletes. So I see them in me and I see me in them.”

When will the XFL return?

The buzz around the league among fans has been at a high after Dwayne Johnson, Danny Garcia, and Redbird Capital Partner bought XFL. The tournament’s return dates have been announced, and games will begin on February 18, 2023. Where the winners of 40 regular-season games amongst the teams in each division advance to the semifinals.

As the XFL prepares to make a comeback, Disney and ESPN have also acquired the rights to broadcast XFL games in the 2023 season. After flopping the previous two seasons, it will be intriguing to watch how the XFL does this time.

Watch This Story: Spear, Spinebuster, and More: WWE Moves Performed in the NFL

Are you excited about XFL? Let us know in the comments section.